Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi, has proven to Apple that indeed, a smartphone maker can make a car from scratch and thrive in the automotive industry. This feat was achieved in 2024 when the company unveiled its first line of EVs, the Speed Ultra 7 — known as the SU7.
Like Apple, Xiaomi is best known for selling smartphones. It is the third-best smartphone maker after Apple and Samsung. Xiaomi successfully achieved a dream Apple spent an entire decade building, and failed.
After ten years, Apple eventually closed the chapter on ‘Project Titan’, which was supposed to bring to life their triumphant entry into the automotive world.
Xiaomi reportedly began mass production of the electric sedan in December 2023, with deliveries of the SU7 starting in February 2024 – but it has not specified if the vehicle is due for a global release, or if it will come to Australia.
The SU7 shares an operating system with Xiaomi’s popular devices, is expected to appeal to customers and provide seamless access to the company’s mobile app portfolio.
April sales in China saw Geely’s Geome Xingyuan lead the sales chart, followed by BYD’s Seagull, and then Wuling Hongguan Mini. Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan followed suit, three BYD models, and Tesla’s Model Y came last.
Xiaomi’s newest model
Less than a year after launching its first EV, Xiaomi has unveiled its YU7 SUV, boasting a driving range of at least 760 kilometers on a single charge, surpassing Tesla’s Model Y’s advertised 719 km. This is expected to significantly erode Tesla Model-Y’s China market share, as the Yu7 SUV has been a selling point for consumers concerned about frequent battery charging.
Analysts predict the YU7 could significantly challenge Tesla’s Model Y, but its launch coincides with Xiaomi’s decline in new EV orders in China, a market where new EV orders are high.
Features of the YU7
The YU7 is a mid-to-large electric SUV that features inward-folding electric door handles, ambient lighting, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support for smartphone-based keyless entry. The cabin is fully leather-lined with Nappa leather “zero gravity” seats, 135° electrically adjustable seats, and a 6.68-inch touch control screen for climate, music, and navigation functions.
The dashboard of the car features a 1.1-meter-wide “HyperVision” system with three Mini LED screens, integrating driving data, media, blind-spot imaging, and customizable widgets. It also includes a 4-in-1 domain controller for cabin, assisted driving, vehicle control, and communications systems. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip provides fast boot-up and over-the-air updates.
The YU7 will be available in three powertrains: YU7 RWD with a single 235 kW rear motor, YU7 Pro AWD with dual motors with 365 kW combined output, and YU7 Max AWD with dual motors with 508 kW and 866 Nm. All models run on Xiaomi’s 800V silicon carbide high-voltage platform and use V6s Plus motors, enabling 5.2C charging speeds and up to 620 km of range in 15 minutes.
The battery configurations and CLTC range estimates include RWD (96.3 kWh LFP battery, 835 km range), Pro AWD (96.3 kWh LFP battery, 770 km range), and Max AWD (101.7 kWh NCM battery, 760 km range).
The YU7, a Xiaomi vehicle, features a 2200 MPa steel integrated roll cage, a 20-in-1 aluminum die-cast front frame, and an “armour cage” with a reinforced shell. Over 50 passive safety tests have been conducted, and the A and B-pillars have been structurally enhanced. Standard on all YU7 variants are Lidar sensors, Nvidia Drive AGX Thor, 4D mmWave radar, and ALD-coated anti-glare cameras.
Xiaomi plans to announce the YU7’s price at the car’s official launch in July.
Even though Xiaomi’s Q1 EV sales growth declined compared to 2024, it still overtook a giant like Tesla. This testifies to its growing dominance in China. The company has a forward-looking approach and aims to become one of the world’s top five automakers within 15 to 20 years, aiming to elevate China’s automobile industry.
